Vaginal cytology is performed by taking a swab from the front end of the vagina and looking at the cells under the microscope. The percentage of the various cells allows us to make an estimate of what stage she is in her heat cycle. However, this is only a crude indicator of ovulation and does not allow for very accurate timing. Vaginal cytology is used for:
Timing of natural breeding, to know when to start breeding every 2-3 days as well as when she is out of heat
Telling when to start progesterone blood tests It is best to start vaginal cytology on the 4th or 5th day of bleeding, and every second to third day thereafter.
